An ammunition explosion and storm? Images raise doubts. No dead sailors? Mothers who seek out their children see things differently. The Russian narrative about the sinking of the “Moskva” is getting more and more cracked.
The missile cruiser “Moskva”, pride of the Russian Black Sea fleet and one of the country’s most important warships, would have a crew of around 500 men. But even a week after the sinking of the flagship, which was observed around the world, there are still contradictory statements about the causes of a fire on board. The whereabouts of the sailors is particularly intriguing.
Relatives of the search took to social media, reporting on the dead, wounded and missing. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that “the entire crew” was saved. But there are many doubts about the presentation.
“We are not allowed to share anything here”
“All information in this regard is provided by the Ministry of Defense. We are not authorized to share anything here,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said coldly. His employer is President Vladimir Putin, commander in chief of the Russian armed forces and the most powerful man in the country. After the sinking of the Moskva, announced last Thursday, Peskov had to say no when asked if Putin wanted to clear up the matter with a visit to the Black Sea Fleet. All military matters.
However, it was Putin who ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24. In the Black Sea, the “Moskva” was also used for warfare until, according to Ukrainian sources, it was hit by two “Neptun” rockets. Kiev celebrates the sunken ship as a triumph in the war against Moscow. A postage stamp showing a Ukrainian soldier with a finger raised on the shore overlooking the “Moskva” is now selling like hot cakes.
And a radio message already dedicated to the Snake Island cruiser: “Russki wojenny korabl, idi na chui!” – (German: “Russian warship, go away!”) is a saying in the country. Ukraine assumes many dead in the “Moskva”.
Media reports of dozens of dead
Russian-speaking media criticizing the Kremlin has even spoken to parents and women who are looking for their children and husbands. They speak of the dead, seriously injured and missing. A woman told the Internet newspaper “Novaya Gazeta. Europa” that her son had told her about a rocket hit on board – and about 40 dead and many injured. The portal “Meduza”, citing a source close to the command of the Black Sea Fleet, reported that 37 crew members died and about 100 were injured.
In an urgent appeal on the Russian network “Vkontakte”, Crimea resident Dmitry Shkrebez addressed the audience “so that the truth prevails in this story”. The war should have been sent, believing him to be dead, he posted a photo of his son and a video message: “Son, I love you. We are always united.” There are many destinations like this with names and places.
Where’s the captain?
A Black Sea Fleet video has been under discussion for days, showing Navy Commander Nikolai Yevmenov visiting the men in Sevastopol. The Black Sea Fleet is based in the Crimean Peninsula city, which Russia annexed in 2014. Observers counted only about 100 sailors in typical black uniforms in the video. The captain’s whereabouts are also unclear.
Yevmenov moves down the ranks and says officers will continue to serve in the fleet, according to Russian military television station Zvezda TV. Sadness is written on the crew’s faces. A mourning wreath can be seen in photos of the ceremony that circulated on the internet – for the ship and the “sailors”, he says. Officially, however, there is still talk of a fire on board, in which ammunition also exploded. As a result, the ship was damaged and sank upon being brought into port.
Navy Commander Nikolai Yevmenov visits the crew of the sunken battleship in Sevastopol. via REUTERSPhotos from the list “Moskva” – in calm waters
Clouds of smoke can be seen in photos and videos that have appeared on the internet after the sinking – and the ship listed in the water. Putin’s spokesman Peskov only said he saw him in the Kremlin but could not say whether the recordings were authentic.
In this Twitter thread, for example, the ship’s captain John Konrad discusses the possibilities of why the “Moskva” may have sunk, but he himself points out that remote diagnosis is difficult. But after comparing older photos, the transport expert is sure that it is the “Moskva”.
The Russian depiction that the “Moskva” capsized because of a storm (after an ammunition explosion) is dubious when looking at the photos, as long as they are authentic. Meteorologist Jörg Kachelmann had previously explained on Twitter that there was no storm blowing off the Ukrainian coast at the time the wreck was reported.
“I am furious with rage”
Interest in the sinking of the “Moskva” is also huge in Russia – and anger that the huge empire, so proud of its war fleet, has lost its flagship. Putin has repeatedly hosted state guests on the cruiser, including former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
“I am furious,” even Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov scolded at a concert, much to the delight of Ukrainians. “Please explain how you can lose them.” Like hell?” thundered the representative of state media, which was sanctioned by the West. Solovyov, who questioned Ukraine’s right to exist, even mentioned the Ukrainian “Neptune” rockets, which would have destroyed the “Moskva”.
He asked how it could be that a missile cruiser could not intercept missiles. The defense was perhaps not active? Or a fire? Why was there no fire protection? In the end, Solovyov said it didn’t matter, the loss was a heavy blow. The video of the angry Solovyov, who is hated there, quickly spread on social media in Ukraine. They failed to play often enough, some Ukrainians said with satisfaction.
(APA/Ulf Mauder/dpa/Red.)